Electric connector

ABSTRACT

The electrical connections between the two sections of the connector are obtained through the use of coupling elements carried by an insulating disk disposed in front of the ends of the cables of the fixed section, locked inside the body of the fixed section, displaceable axially inside of said fixed section and having no electrical contact with said ends of the cables when the two sections of the connector are disconnected.

nite States Patent Latent Feb. 22, 1972 [541 ELECTRIC CONNECTOR [72]Inventor: Maurice Louis Lafont, Paris, France [73] Assignee: SocieteAnonyme dite Francelco, Paris,

France [22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1968 [21] Appl. No.: 705,824

30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 14, 1967 France ..102783 52]US. (:1 ..339/46, zoo/51.09, 339/45 M,

. 339/91 B 511 1m.c1 ..11011 13/62 [58] Field of Search; ..200/51.09;339/45 M, 91 B, 339/1 11, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,986,613 5/1961 Figueira..200/51.09

3,083,274 3/1963 Sparkes ..339/45MX 3,360,764 12/1967 Bac ..339/45MPrimary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. LewisAttorneyLinton & Linton [57] ABSTRACT The electrical connections betweenthe two sections of the connector are obtained through the use ofcoupling elements carried by an insulating disk disposed in front of theends of the cables of the fixed section, locked inside the body of thefixed section, displaceable axially inside of said fixed section andhaving no electrical contact with said ends of the cables when the twosections of the connector are disconnected.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTED EB I972 3.644.871

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I 6 GNVEN'T'QR MAURICE LOUIS LRFONT IPATENTEDFEBZZ I972 SHEET u OF 4INVENfO/Z MAURICE LOUIS LA FONT ELECTRIC CONNECTOR DESCRIPTION OF THEINVENTION The present invention is concerned with an electric cableconnector.

Connectors are usually formed by means of elementary electricalconnecting parts, respectively male and female, making it possible tojoin two strands of cable end to end.

The female section of the connector is generally fixed to the interiorand against the wall of a tightly sealed area containing electricalreceivers or generators, the ends of the connecting sockets extendingoutward from said enclosure.

These connectors are not satisfactory, since the extremities of thesockets are not protected and they may therefore be brought togethereither deliberately or by accident, thereby causing serious shortcircuits.

Furthermore, an abrupt rise in the outside temperature can also causeshort circuits. In fact, the above-mentioned sockets are generally sunkin a part made of an insulating thermoplastic material which can softenand even melt under the effect of a sharp rise in temperature; thedestruction of this insulating part causes, therefore, undesirablecontacts between the connecting sockets.

The present invention, which provides a remedy for these disadvantages,is characterized by the fact that the electrical connections between thetwo sections of the connector are obtained by means of connectingelements carried on an insulating disk disposed in front of the ends ofthe cables of the fixed sections, displaceable axially inside of thelatter, and having no electrical contact with said ends of the cableswhen the two sections of the connector are disconnected.

In this position, the insulating disk is locked in position and it isimpossible for it to be driven into the body of the fixed section.

The unlocking of the insulating connecting disk is obtained by the frontend of the removable section of the connector when it is fitted onto thefixed section.

This device offers the advantage of forming a secure seal preventingaccess on the part of the cables connected to the fixed section of theconnector, which are generally charged.

Moreover, a sharp momentary increase in the outside temperature, causingthe eventual destruction of the insulating disk, cannot produce shortcircuits, since the metallic connecting elements which it contains aresufficiently far from the free ends of the electric cables, which are,in addition, suitably insulated from the mass of the fixed section ofthe conductor.

Other characteristics will appear more clearly from the descriptionwhich follows and in reference to the annexed drawings, given solely asan illustrative example, in which:

FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixed section of theconnector;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the removable section of theconnector;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mounted unit;

FIG. 4 is a partial view on a larger scale showing the locked connectingdisk;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, showing the unlockedconnecting disk;

FIG. 6 is a blown-up view in perspective showing a detail of theconstruction;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view made along the line VII-VII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view made along the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 3.

With reference to the drawings and according to one form of embodiment,the ends of the electric cables C to be connected are provided withplugs 1 extending beyond the insulating cores 2 and 3 held respectivelyin wire-clamping jackets 4 and 5.

The jacket 4 presents a ring-shaped flange 6 permitting it to befastened to the body of the fixed section of the connector by means ofanut 7.

The body of the fixed section of the connector consists of three parts8, 9 and 10, the part 8, which forms the sole, being fastened against awall P by means of a screw 11, while 9 and 10, appropriately separated,are held on the part 8 by means of a nut 12.

The three parts 8, 9 and 10, are suitably positioned relative to eachother at the time of assembly.

On the jacket 4, a tubular sleeve 13 can slide, closed off by aninsulating disk 14 with which it has been integrated and which comprisesconnecting sockets 15 open on each of its faces and in which theabove-cited plugs 1 can engage from each side.

The sleeve 13 comprises a flange 16 which is constantly subjected to theaction of a spring 17, so that the sockets 15 do not engage with theplugs 1 of the jackets 4.

The run of the sleeve 13, under the action of the spring 17, is limitedby a shoulder on the part 9 and it is such that, in the connectingposition, the outer face 14 of the disk 14 is flush with part8 ofthesole 8 (FIG. 1).

Given the fact that the distribution and diameter of the plug-in pinscan vary according to the use contemplated, it is important to align thedisk 14 at an angle with respect to the jacket 4.

The angular positioning of the jacket 4 is ensured by a pin 18 on itsflange 6 fitting into a corresponding seat in the part 10.

The angular positioning of the sleeve 13 is ensured by a spur 19,forming a sliding pin guided in a longitudinal groove 20 on the part 9,the latter being positioned, moreover relative to the part 10 by meansofa finger 21 engaged in a hole 22 in said part 9.

The locking into position of the disk 14 is ensured by balls 23 housedin radial holes 24 ofa skirt 25 on the part 9 and are held engaged in agroove 26 of the sleeve 13 by means of a ring 27 which can slide overthe extremity of said skirt 25.

The ring 27 presents a flange 28 which is constantly biased by means ofa spring 29 against an inner shoulder of the sole 8 (FIG. I).

The ring 27 includes a skirt 30 extending toward the face 8' of the sole8 and having an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameterof the skirt 25, the clearance thus created permitting the balls 23 todisengage from the groove 26 without, however, leaving their hole 24when the ring 27 is displaced by the compression of its spring 29 underthe action of an axial thrust exerted on the extremity of said skirt 30.

The removable section of the connector consists principally of thejacket 5 extending at 5' beyond its plug 1 and is able to slide and belocked in a tubular body 31 bearing upon the partition P when theconnection is made.

The body 31 consists of a tubular tip 32 which can be introduced intothe aforementioned sole 8, and the length of 'which is such that, whensaid body 31 rests against the wall P,

the end of said tip presses back the ring 27 of the fixed section whileensuring the unlocking of the sleeve 13.

The jacket 5, which forms an integral part of a manipulating grip 33,presents a shoulder 34 which abuts against an inner shoulder of the borein the body 31 limiting its recoil.

The body 31 presents radial holes 35 in which are housed the balls 36,the diameter of which is greater than the thickness of said body.

A ring 37 capable of sliding on the body 31 rests, by means of acountersink 38 in its bore, on the balls 36 under the action of a spring39 interposed between a shoulder of said ring 37 and the bottom of abore in the grip 33.

The jacket 5 presents a peripheral groove 40 situated on the oppositeside of its extremity S with respect to the balls 36 (FIG. 2).

When the body 31 is applied against the partition P and pressure isexerted on the grip 33 in the sense of the arrow F the spring 39 iscompressed, so as to rest against the ring 37; the jacket 5 is displacedin the same direction, penetrating the fixed section of the connector.

When the groove 40 is brought in front of the balls 36, the latter,pushed by the ramp 38, enter said groove. At this moment, the ring 37advances, pressed by the spring 39 which partly expands, ensuring thelocking of the jacket 5 which, held by the balls 36, can no longerrecede.

The locking of the body 31 on the sole 8 of the fixed section can takeplace in the following manner:

The tip 32 presents radial holes 41 in which are engaged balls 42 incontact with the perimeter ofa set-off portion 43 of the extremity 5' ofthe jacket 5 which adjusts itself, by means of a suitably inclinedplane, to the outer diameter of said jacket.

As thejacket 5 slides, the balls 42 are pressed back in a radialdirection and can project forth at the perimeter of the tip 32 so as toengage in an inner groove 44 made in the sole 8, thereby ensuring thelocking of the removable section of the connector on the fixed section.

The total run of the jacket 5 is sufficient to ensure the entrance ofthe plugs 1 of the jackets 4 and 5 into the sockets of the disk 14.

The angular positioning of the body 31 relative to the sole 8 is ensuredby a longitudinal groove 45 on its tip 32 fitting onto a finger 46 ofthebore in the sole 8.

The jacket 5 is naturally positioned, by any of the usual means,relative to he body 31 so as to avoid mistakes in making the connection.

The extremities of the skirt and the section 5' of the jacket 5 presentrespectively notches 47 and 48 forming a dogclutch device capable ofabsorbing the eventual effects of torque between the two assembledsections so that said torque is not applied on the plugins or on thepositioning fingers and spurs.

The device for locking the removable section on the fixed section isparticularly advantageous, since it does not rely on forces transmittedby elastic members or on members subject to loosening.

The separation of the two sections of the connector can only beaccomplished, moreover, by an action contrary to that described fortheir assembly, and hence any unexpected traction of the cablesconnected to the removable section of the said connector is withouteffect.

The unlocking of the removable section is obtained by a sharp pull onthe rings 37 according to arrow F (FIG. 3).

As a result of this action, the ring 37 pulls back, compressing thespring 39, which comes to rest against the grip 33.

In its backward movement, the ring 37 uncovers the holes 35; the balls36 are pushed out of their groove 40, and the jacket 5 also recedes.

As this recall takes place, caused by the relaxation of the spring 39which again comes to rest on the balls 36 under the action f the ring37, the plugs l are disengaged from their sockets l5.

Pushed simultaneously by the spring 17 which expands, the disk 14disengages itself from the plugs 1 of the jacket 4.

When the jacket 5 has sufficiently retreated, the balls 42 are no longerheld in their groove 44, and the removable section of the connectorcompletes its disengagement under the action of the skirt on the ring 27pressed back by the spring 29, which expands, ensuring the locking ofthe disk 14 by means of the balls 23 which enter the groove 26.

It is understood, of course, that the present invention is not limitedto the form of embodiment described and represented, but includes, onthe contrary, all variations in its forms and dimensions.

I claim:

1. An electric connector comprising, in combination, a fixed section, ajacket inside said fixed section a cable plug carried by said jacket, aremovable section, an insulating disk displaceable axially inside ofsaid fixed section, electrical connecting elements in said disk, atubular sleeve capable of sliding on said jacket and supporting saiddisk, a flange on said jacket, a spring for acting on said flange inorder to hold said disk apart from the end of the cable plu of saidfixed section when said sections are disconnected, a s m in said fixedsection encircling said displaceable sleeve bearing said disk, ashoulder at the rear extremity of said skirt serving as a stop for saidflange, radial holes on said skirt, balls positioned in said holes, aperipheral groove on said sleeve which said balls can partly enter whensaid sections are disconnected, a sliding lock ring encircling saidskirt, a second spring pushing said ring towards the exterior of saidfixed section and pressing it against a shoulder on said fixed section,another skirt extending outwardly of said fixed section and situated onsaid locking ring and having an inner diameter which is greater than theouter diameter of said locking ring, a second cable plug carried by saidremovable section, means on said removable section for unlocking saiddisk when said sections are connected, and means for arming theunlocking device of said removable section, and to actuate the unlockingdevice on said removable section for disconnecting it from said fixedsection.

2. An electric connector comprising, in combination, a fixed section, ajacket inside said fixed section, a cable plug carried by said jacket, aremovable section, a second cable plug carried by said removablesection, an insulating disk axially displaceable inside said fixedsection, electric connecting elements in said disk, a tubular sleevecapable of sliding on said jacket and supporting said disk, a flange onsaid jacket, a spring acting on said flange in order to hold said diskapart from the cable plug of said fixed section when said two sectionare disconnected, a skirt on said fixed section encircling saiddisk-bearing displaceable sleeve, a shoulder on the rear extremity ofsaid skirt serving as a stop for said flange on the disk-bearing sleeve,radial holes on said skirt, balls in said holes, a peripheral groove onsaid sleeve which said balls can partly enter when said sections aredisconnected, a sliding lock ring encircling said skirt, a second springpushing said ring toward the exterior of said fixed section, pressing itagainst a shoulder in said fixed section and in such a manner that saidring holds said balls in their groove, another skirt extends outwardlyon said lock ring and the inner diameter of the same is greater thanthat of said ring, a second jacket capable of sliding in said removablesection and resting against said fixed section when said sections areconnected, and a tip at the front end of said second jacket for pushingback said locking ring of said displaceable disk upon the connection ofsaid sections.

1. An electric connector comprising, in combination, a fixed section, ajacket inside said fixed section a cable plug carried by said jacket, aremovable section, an insulating disk displaceable axially inside ofsaid fixed section, electrical connecting elements in said disk, atubular sleeve capable of sliding on said jacket and supporting saiddisk, a flange on said jacket, a spring for acting on said flange inorder to hold said disk apart from the end of the cable plug of saidfixed section when said sections are disconnected, a skirt in said fixedsection encircling said displaceable sleeve bearing said disk, ashoulder at the rear extremity of said skirt serving as a stop for saidflange, radial holes on said skirt, balls positioned in said holes, aperipheral groove on said sleeve which said balls can partly enter whensaid sections are disconnected, a sliding lock ring encircling saidskirt, a second spring pushing said ring towards the exterior of saidfixed section and pressing it against a shoulder on said fixed section,another skirt extending outwardly of said fixed section and situated onsaid locking ring and having an inner diameter which is greater than theouter diameter of said locking ring, a second cable plug carried by saidremovable section, means on said removable section for unlocking saiddisk when said sections are connected, and means for arming theunlocking device of said removable section, and to actuate the unlockingdevice on said removable section for disconnecting it from said fixedsection.
 2. An electric connector comprising, in combination, a fixedsection, a jacket inside said fixed section, a cable plug carried bysaid jacket, a removable section, a second cable plug carried by saidremovable section, an insulating disk axially displaceable inside saidfixed section, electric connecting elements in said disk, a tubularsleeve capable of sliding on said jacket and supporting said disk, aflange on said jacket, a spring acting on said flange in order to holdsaid disk apart from the cable plug of said fixed section when said twosection are disconnected, a skirt on said fixed section encircling saiddisk-bearing displaceable sleeve, a shoulder on the rear extremity ofsaid skirt serving as a stop for said flange on the disk-bearing sleeve,radial holes on said skirt, balls in said holes, a peripheral groove onsaid sleeve which said balls can partly enter when said sections aredisconnected, a sliding lock ring encircling said skirt, a second springpushing said ring toward the exterior of said fixed section, pressing itagainst a shoulder in said fixed section and in such a manner that saidring holds said balls in their groove, another skirt extends outwardlyon said lock ring and the inner diameter of the same is greater thanthat of said ring, a second jacket capable of sliding in said removablesection and resting against said fixed section when said sections areconnected, and a tip at the front end of said second jacket for pushingback said locking ring of said displaceable disk upon the connection ofsaid sections.